Public holidays in Ethiopia

The following are public holidays (Amharic: የኢትዮጵያ ብሔራዊ በዓል),(Oromo: Ayaanoota Biyyoolessaa Itiiyoopiyaa ) in Ethiopia. Many holidays follow the Ethiopian Orthodox Tewahedo Church.[1]

National holiday

DateEnglish nameAmharic name Oromoo NameNotes
2 MarchAdwa Victory Dayየዓድዋ ድል በዓል Ijifaannoo AdawaaaCommemorates Ethiopians victory over Italy at Battle of Adwa in 1896.[2]
1 MayInternational Workers' Dayዓለም አቀፍ የሠራተኞች ቀን Guyyaa Hojjattootaa Idil-addunyaa
5 MayEthiopian Patriots' Victory Dayየአርበኞች ቀን Guyyaa BajalbajaaCommemorates the 1941 entering of Emperor Haile Selassie into Addis Ababa amidst Second World War, who returned to the throne after 5 years Italian occupation of Ethiopia following Second Italo-Ethiopian War.[3]
28 May[4]Downfall of the Dergደርግ የወደቀበት ቀን Guyyaa Kufaatii DargiiCommemorates the end of the Derg junta in 1991. It is also known as Ginbot 20 (ግንቦት 20).
11 September
(Leap year: 12 September)
Enkutatashእንቁጣጣሽ/የዘመን መለወጫ/አዲስ አመት Ayaana Bara HaaraaNew Year of Ethiopia and Eritrea

Religious holidays

Ethiopian Orthodox Tewahedo Church holidays

Orthodox Church calendar dateEnglish nameAmharic name Oromoo name
7 JanuaryEthiopian ChristmasGenna (ልደተ-ለእግዚእነ/ ገና) Ayaana Qillee
19 January
(Leap year: 20 January)
EpiphanyTimkat (ብርሐነ ጥምቀት) Ayaana Cuuphaa
Moveable in springGood FridaySiklet (ስቅለት) Ayyaana Faannoo
Moveable in springEasterFasika (ብርሐነ-ትንሣኤ/ፋሲካ) Ayyaana Faasiikaa
27 September
28 September (leap year)
Meskelመስቀል Masqalaa

Islamic holidays

In addition, the following Muslim holidays, which may take place at any time of the year, are observed as public holidays:

Islamic calendar dateEnglish nameOromo nameNotes
MoveableRamadanRamadaanNinth month, devoted to fasting
12 Rabi' al-awwal (Sunni)
17 Rabi' al-awwal (Shia)
MawlidMawliidBirth of the Prophet
1 ShawwalEid al-FitrIid al-FitriiBreaking of the Fast
10 Dhu al-HijjahEid al-AdhaIid al-AdhaaFeast of the Sacrifice

Holidays under the Derg communist rule (1974–1991)

DateEnglish nameAmharic name Oromo nameNotes
12 September Revolution Day የአብዮት ቀን Guyyaa warraaqsa Celebrated during Communist rule from 1974 to 1991 to celebrate the establishment of the Derg. In 1987, the celebrations of the holiday, which included a military parade on Revolution Square attended by multiple figures, also commemorated the establishment of the People's Democratic Republic of Ethiopia.[5][6]
7 NovemberOctober Revolution Dayየጥቅምት አብዮት ቀን Guyyaa warraaqsa OnkolooleessaaCelebrated during Communist rule from 1974 to 1991.

References

  1. "Festivals & Holidays". www.ethioembassy.org.uk. Archived from the original on 4 March 2016. Retrieved 30 September 2016.
  2. "Victory of Adwa in Ethiopia in 2021". Office Holidays. Retrieved January 14, 2021.
  3. "Patriots' Victory Day in Ethiopia in 2021". Office Holidays. Retrieved January 14, 2021.
  4. "Derg Downfall Day in Ethiopia". www.timeanddate.com. Retrieved 2016-11-03.
  5. "Ethiopia Celebrates 13th Anniversary of Revolution". AP NEWS. Retrieved 2021-06-23.
  6. "Ethiopian revolution marked". UPI. Retrieved 2021-06-23.


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